62-year-old Shantidevi of Rukum West finally gets citizenship

Shantidevi Nepali of Nathigad, Sisne Rural Municipality-7, Rukum West, has received her Nepali citizenship certificate for the first time at the age of 62. Born in 2021 BS, she was granted citizenship by the District Administration Office, Rukum West.

Without citizenship, she had long been deprived of the services and facilities provided by the state. With the certificate in hand, the way is now open for her to receive the social security allowance.

Shantidevi, who came to Rukum West after marriage, had no family members on her maternal side, including her parents. This made it difficult for her to gather the family details and supporting documents required for citizenship, and she had been trying to arrange them with the help of relatives.

Some time ago, after she visited the District Administration Office, officials understood her problem and moved the necessary process forward. With help from relatives and facilitation by the administration, the documents were arranged and citizenship was granted within about a week.

Chief District Officer Kopila Rai said it took some time to gather the necessary documents because there was no one on her maternal side. She said that once the administration itself took the initiative to arrange the documents, it succeeded in granting citizenship to Shantidevi, who had remained without it for a long time.